The Deal

Chapter 11 - Family Affairs

Melina's pov:

Two weeks  passed with Stavros traveling most of the days and I getting more and more bored every day. The good thing is that I am alone and no one is disturbing my peace. I have already taken breakfast when I decided to go for a ride with Autumn. It is the last days of November and I intend to take advantage of it. Soon the earth will get colder when the first snow will appear on the mountain peaks, and I will have to reduce my walks with Autumn. If I stop riding, I don't know how to cope with being at home all day. I have nothing to do there. I have to find something to occupy myself. Thinking all these, I arrived home. I got off my horse and after I arranged it in the stable, I went inside.  Aggeliki was waiting for me at the door looking completely scared when I entered.

-"My....my.... lady.......you have to go upstairs quickly."

-"What? Why? What's going on Aggeliki?"It was then that I heard loud voices from the direction of Stavros's office. Somebody was arguing. I looked at Aggeliki wondering what was going on "Did Stavros return from his trip?" I asked her.

-"Ye...s.....yes Misses" Aggeliki mumbled still very frightened.

-"Please Aggeliki calm down! Why do you react like this? What's wrong? Did something bad happen to Stavros?"

-"My lady you have to go upstairs" she insisted.

-"No, I won't. I have to speak with Stavros right away" Ι told her firmly.

-"You can't. He is occupied at the moment"

-"You don't expect me to go upstairs when there is a commotion downstairs" I scolded her and headed to his office. The voices became louder and clearer. I recognized the voice of Stavros and a woman's as well. Who was she? And why was she shouting at him?

I knocked on the door and the voices stopped abruptly. I heard Stavros saying come in in an angry way. I entered and found him sitting beside his desk while his mother was standing opposite of him while his sister was sitting on the couch. The atmosphere seemed tense.

-"Oh! Our beloved bride did us the honor to show up eventually"....my mother in law commented. I don't know why but she sounded ironic. Anyway I didn't let it affect me and I greeted them courteously.

-"Hello Mrs. Venieris, Alexandra. How are you? Stavros I hope I didn't interrupt anything important"

I knew Alexandra from the Riding Club. We didn't hang out much but we share the same love for horses.

-"No, not at all my dear" Stavros' mother interened. "In fact we were talking about you"

-"About me? Why?" I wondered.

-"You know, my dear, you are only a few days here and you managed to create a problem. Υou are the cause of our disagreement" my mother in law commented venomously.

-"Μother enough!" Stavros shouted at her.

-"What's going on?" I asked seriously. I have never seen Stavros so irritated.

-"Nothing" Stavros answered firmly.

-"It's so obvious that she has wrapped you in her little finger! You don't even dare to tell her what's going on. How did you end up like that my son? It's really sad" she told Stavros. Then she gave me a stern look and told me. "I must confess for your age you are very manipulative."

-"What are you accusing me of?" I asked irritated. Enough is enough. I don't know what's going on but I am not willing to accept this non- existence accusations.

-"My beloved brother instead of giving your father's enterprise to my husband he decided to give it to you, you little witch!" Alexandra said in a malicious way.